Autopsy reports are available in approximately 90 days from the date of the autopsy. The report may take longer if additional testing and review are required by the medical examiner. Every effort is made to complete the autopsy report in a timely manner.
Autopsy Reports Requests
The information contained in an autopsy report is not public record, and is treated as a confidential medical record. Please see below for instructions on how to request reports and see our frequently asked questions.
NOTE: If the case is a homicide or still under criminal, active investigation, a report cannot be released without permission from the District Attorney’s Office.
Authorized Requestors:
2. Attorneys and Insurance Companies
1. Legal Next-of-Kin (in descending order of authority):
You must be the legal next-of-kin in order to obtain an autopsy report. The final report is available at no charge to the legal next-of-kin (if record is older than 5 years, a pre-payment of $150.00 is required).
Legal next-of-kin is listed below in the descending order of authority. Please do not submit a request for reports if there are surviving relatives that come before you in the list below:
FIRST: Legal spouse/domestic partner of the decedent, whether estranged or separated, but NOT divorced; then,
SECOND: Person designated in written instrument (court appointed estate executor or administrator; then,
THIRD: Decedent’s adult children 18 or older (excluding step-children); then,
FOURTH: Either parent of decedent; then,
FIFTH: Sibling of decedent 18 or older (including half-siblings); then,
SIXTH: Grandchildren 18 or older; then,
SEVENTH: Great grandchildren 18 or older; then,
EIGHTH: Nieces and nephews 18 or older; then,
NINTH: Grand-nieces and grand-nephews 18 or older; then,
TENTH: Grandparents of decedent; then,
ELEVENTH: Aunts and uncles 18 or older; then,
TWELFTH: First cousins 18 or older; then,
THIRTEENTH: Great grandchildren of grandparents 18 or older; then,
FOURTEENTH: Second cousins 18 or older.
TO REQUEST A REPORT: IF you are the legal next of kin as stated above, please do one of the following:
- Fill out our online Autopsy Report Request Form and you will be emailed a copy of the report when completed in a confidential email.
- Download, Print and Mail or Print & Fax
a signed completed Autopsy Report Request Form to:
100 Elizabeth Blackwell Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
Fax: 315.435.3319
2. Attorneys and Insurance Companies:
TO REQUEST A REPORT: Requests must be emailed to autopsyrequests@ongov.net
Please send email requests on company letterhead and from a company email address with full signature block (including name of requester, title, agency name/address, email and phone). All requests must include a signed release from the legal next-of-kin.
Reports will be sent from the secure email address “ITNotification@ongov.net”; please be sure to check your spam folder. NOTE: Examination report(s) take approximately 90 days to be completed and may take longer if additional testing and review are required by the medical examiner.